Doctor Who: Jenna-Louise Coleman to play new female companion

Doctor Who: Jenna-Louise Coleman to play new female companion

Jenna-Louise Coleman has been unveiled as the new Dr Who new assistant

The 25-year-old, who played lesbian Jasmine Thomas in the soap, is reported to have impressed TV bosses in screen tests with star Matt Smith.

Karen Gillan, who plays Amy Pond, is due to leave the BBC adventure this year and Coleman was unveiled this morning at a press conference.

She will soon appear as Annie Desmond in Julian Fellowes' new ITV1 Titanic drama, while her credits also include Waterloo Road.

Coleman said she was "beyond excited" to take the role.

She will start filming in May and make her first appearance in the Christmas special.

The show's writer, Steven Moffat, said her partnership with Smith "came to life" during the auditions.

He said: "It always feels like a miracle when you find the right person."

Moffat remained tight-lipped about the new series, saying Coleman's introduction would be a "very, very different way for the Doctor to meet his new friend".

He said there would be six episodes this year with eight more in 2013.

He revealed Gillan would be written out in the fifth episode of 2012 in a "final encounter" with the weeping angels. Coleman said she was "so relieved" to be finally able to tell people she had the job.